The above guidelines, viewpoints and policies were once again affirmed and emphasized more clearly by Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province during his visit, work and New Year greetings to Bunpimay in 2 provinces: Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang (Laos) in early April 2023.
As two close neighbors, both leaning against the majestic Truong Son mountain range, Vietnam and Laos have built a diplomatic relationship, closely connected and supported each other throughout the history of building and defending the country of the two peoples. In particular, since the birth of the Indochinese Communist Party, directly founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, successive generations of leaders of the two Parties, States and Peoples have continued to diligently cultivate the traditional relationship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, which has continuously blossomed and borne sweet fruit, becoming a miraculous force leading to many great victories in the struggle for national liberation, building and defending the country and moving towards socialism together.
Nghe An is the province with the largest natural area in the country, with the longest common border with Laos in Vietnam, more than 468km, stretching across 6 districts, 27 communes of 3 provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bo Ly Kham Xay. The natural terrain, history, and culture of the border area of Nghe An have many similarities with the 3 neighboring provinces. Residents here live in harmony, close to each other, growing up together from working together on the fields, drinking the same water, walking the same road, listening to the same rooster crowing in the morning; have long-standing family relationships, regularly visiting relatives, and exchanging culture and economy with each other.
Implementing the Party and State's policies and guidelines on promoting cooperative relations with Laos, in recent years, the friendly and cooperative relations between Nghe An and Lao provinces have been increasingly strengthened and expanded. During his recent visit and working session in Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang provinces, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung expressed his delight at the development achievements of each locality and affirmed that the Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An province identified strengthening and promoting comprehensive cooperative relations with localities of the Lao PDR as one of the particularly important political tasks, always given top priority. In addition to the three provinces sharing the border, Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bolikhamxay, Nghe An has expanded cooperative relations with the provinces of Vientiane, Kham Muon, Savannakhet, and Xay Som Bun in many fields.
Imbued with the teaching of beloved Uncle Ho: "Helping friends is helping yourself" and with the selfless and pure international sentiment, throughout the years of resistance against the common invaders as well as when entering the period of integration and opening up, despite countless difficulties, Nghe An has given the provinces of Laos the best sentiments. In addition to regularly maintaining contact and exchanging experiences at all levels, the effectiveness of cooperation is affirmed by specific works and tasks, marking the loyal and warm sentiments of the people of Nghe An province in the Land of a Million Elephants such as: Phon Xa Van High School; Cultural House, Xieng Khouang Provincial Hospital; School and Community Cultural House of Hua Phan Province; Kham Cot District Ethnic High School, Military and Civilian Medical Station in Xay-cham-phon District, Bo-ly-kham-xay Province;...
Every year, President Ho Chi Minh's hometown has spent tens of billions of VND to support the training of cadres in Lao provinces in the fields of military, national defense, education, security and order, health;... From 2017 to now, more than 1,200 Lao cadres and students have come to study and research at universities and colleges in Nghe An province. Many Lao students have been welcomed by families in Nghe An as their own children. At the same time, many cadres and students in Nghe An province have also been accepted for short-term and long-term training at universities and colleges in Laos.
The leaders of Nghe An province and the two provinces of Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang were pleased that in recent times, joint activities to patrol and protect national border markers, build a peaceful and friendly border; fight and suppress criminals; and promote the twinning movement on both sides of the border have been maintained regularly. Nghe An province has closely coordinated and received enthusiastic support from Lao localities in searching, collecting, gathering, and repatriating the remains of more than 13,000 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.
Not only are political relations good, but economic, trade and investment cooperation between Nghe An and other provinces is also increasingly flourishing. Nghe An and Lao provinces are becoming potential economic partners. In the period from 2018 to the end of 2022, the total import and export turnover between Nghe An and Laos reached more than 140 million USD.
With the ethics of valuing gratitude and kindness, Vietnam in general and Nghe An province in particular will never forget the valuable and great sharing, support and help of generations of leaders, cadres, soldiers and people of Laos. During his visit and work in Laos, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung visited the Vieng Xay Revolutionary Base - the capital of Laos' resistance war, the Plain of Jars relic in Xieng Khouang province; laid wreaths at the Laos - Vietnam Combat Alliance Memorial, the Vietnam - Laos Martyrs' Temple to express gratitude and loyalty. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also visited the families of the leaders of Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang provinces. Without the heavy diplomatic formalities, the attached memories came back in a warm and intimate atmosphere like family members meeting again after a long time.
Contributing to the strong development and impressive cooperation achievements of Nghe An and Lao provinces in recent years, it is indispensable for overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese businesses in Laos to be diligent, united, loving, caring for each other, always with a heart towards the motherland. As a successful businessman in Hua Phan province (Laos), Mr. Le Van Hung said that he often returns to the country and is excited to witness the rapid changes of his homeland and said that he will continue to contribute to the increasingly strong relationship between the two countries. Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung hopes that the Vietnamese community in Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang provinces will continue to be united, support each other in business as well as in life, actively contribute to the homeland and the host country, and constantly join hands to preserve and foster the special relationship - the invaluable asset of the two peoples.
Visiting the Xieng Khouang Provincial Friendship Hospital project with 200 beds and modern equipment, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized that this is a very meaningful project, a special gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the people of Xieng Khouang province. After the project is completed and put into use, the hospital will meet the medical examination and treatment needs of the people of Xieng Khouang province. Therefore, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Project Management Board to promptly complete the remaining contents of the project, striving to inaugurate the hospital on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday in May 2023. Nghe An province committed to sending a delegation of officials to guide the hospital to proficiently use medical equipment and operate the hospital; at the same time, continue to train staff for Nghe An when the province has human resources.
At the meeting between Nghe An province and the two provinces of Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang, the provincial leaders agreed that cooperation between localities in many fields has been vibrant, contributing to building an increasingly strong and effective bilateral relationship. Regarding the direction of cooperation in the coming time, Nghe An province and the two provinces of Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang agreed to make efforts to effectively implement the cooperation minutes for the 2023-2025 period; continue to strengthen the exchange of delegations at all levels and channels to continuously consolidate the special and strong political trust relationship; cooperate in investment, production and business; develop border gates, build transport infrastructure; culture, sports, health, information and propaganda; education, training and coaching; territorial and border work; resolve spontaneous migration and unregistered marriages in border areas; and work on the two sides of the border.
The leaders of Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang provinces expressed their gratitude for the great, valuable and timely support of the Party, State and People of Vietnam in general and the Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An province in particular over the past time, a vivid manifestation of the rare special relationship between countries in today's era. At the same time, they affirmed that despite many difficulties, they promised to stand shoulder to shoulder with the country and people of Vietnam in general and the people of Nghe An province in particular to jointly build and develop the two countries comprehensively in all fields, contributing to fostering and promoting our special relationship to become increasingly sustainable and fruitful.
Currently, the world and the region are undergoing profound and complex changes. More than ever, we must be more deeply aware of the task of inheriting and further developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. This is the reason for living, the consistent sentiment, the law of survival, the factor ensuring the victory of the revolutionary cause of each Party and each country in the new period. The Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An province are determined to make every effort to, together with the provinces and people of Laos, protect, preserve and develop this sacred and invaluable relationship.
